Importance of nasal fiberoptic examination in the presence of a normal X-ray of the cavum

Diagnostic Accuracy of Radiology and Endoscopy in the Assessment of Adenoid Hypertrophy

Aim

To clarify the diagnostic accuracy of the lateral X-ray of nasopharynx, and the flexible nasopharyngoscopy in the assessment of adenoid hypertrophy, with the preoperative rigid nasal endoscopic observation, as it was considered as a reference standard guide.

Materials and methods

This is a prospective observational study that included 80 children who planned to undergo adenoidectomy due to the symptoms found related to adenoid hypertrophy. All the children underwent a relevant clinical history and full ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination, and the grading of adenoid hypertrophy was done preoperatively with the lateral X-ray of the nasopharynx and the flexible nasopharyngoscopy. These findings were analyzed and compared with the peroperative rigid nasal endoscopic assessment of adenoid hypertrophy, which was considered as a reference guide.

Results

There were 44 boys (55%) and 36 girls (45%), with mean age of 5.176 (±1.873) years, and the highest frequency of adenoid hypertrophy was found in the age group of 4 to 6 years (62.45%); the most common grade of the adenoid size in all the types of the assessment was grade 3. The assessment of adenoid grading by both flexible and peroperative rigid nasal endoscopy versus radiology was statistically significant, with p value of 0.0001, while the adenoid grading between flexible and peroperative rigid nasal endoscopic assessment was almost comparable, as no significant difference was found, with p value of 0.46.

Conclusion

Flexible nasopharyngoscopy was a more reliable diagnostic tool in the assessment of the adenoid size than lateral nasopharyngeal X-ray, as it correlates well with peroperative rigid nasal endoscopic finding.

How to cite this article

Dawood MR, Khammas AH. Diagnostic Accuracy of Radiology and Endoscopy in the Assessment of Adenoid Hypertrophy. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin 2017;9(1):6-9.

Radiographic adenoid evaluation: proposal of an objective parameter

Objective

The objective of the present study was to evaluate current radiographic parameters designed to investigate adenoid hypertrophy and nasopharyngeal obstruction, and to present an alternative radiographic assessment method.

Materials and Methods

In order to do so, children (4 to14 years old) who presented with nasal obstruction or oral breathing complaints were submitted to cavum radiographic examination. One hundred and twenty records were evaluated according to quantitative radiographic parameters, and data were correlated with a gold-standard videonasopharyngoscopic study, in relation to the percentage of choanal obstruction. Subsequently, a regression analysis was performed in order to create an original model so the percentage of the choanal obstruction could be predicted.

Results

The quantitative parameters demonstrated moderate, if not weak correlation with the real percentage of choanal obstruction. The regression model (110.119*A/N) demonstrated a satisfactory ability to "predict" the actual percentage of choanal obstruction.

Conclusion

Since current adenoid quantitative radiographic parameters present limitations, the model presented by the present study might be considered as an alternative assessment method in cases where videonasopharyngoscopic evaluation is unavailable.

Evaluation of airway obstruction by adenoid tissue: comparison of measures in the sitting and recumbent

OBJECTIVE

To measure the airway obstruction caused by adenoid hypertrophy in the sitting and recumbent positions in search of hypothesized differences.

METHODS

Forty eight children between the ages of 2 and 12 years who sought the department of otorhinolaryngology spontaneously complaining of snoring and/or nasal obstruction. Children could be either male or female and belong to any social or racial group. Patients underwent nasal videoendoscopy sitting and lying performed by the same investigator. An image of the posterior nasopharynx was obtained from each nasal cavity of each patient for both positions. The free area of the nasopharynx was measured and compared in both positions. Image analysis was performed by two researchers other than that who carried out the examination.

RESULTS

The nasopharynx free area obtained with seated patient is, on average, 53% bigger than the free area obtained with the patient lying down (confidence interval: 95%; p<0.001). Thus, adenoidal obstruction is larger when the examination is performed with the patient lying down.

CONCLUSIONS

Nasal videoendoscopy to evaluate adenoid hypertrophy with the patient lying down makes testing more reliable, better reproducing the patient's position when sleeping. Such accuracy is essential since it influences the decision for surgical intervention in this important and widespread disease in the pediatric population.

Correlation between nasopharyngoscopy and cephalometry in the diagnosis of hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsils

INTRODUCTION

 Hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil is one of the main causes of mouth breathing, and accurate diagnosis of this alteration is important for proper therapeutic planning. Therefore, studies have been conducted in order to provide information regarding the procedures that can be used for the diagnosis of pharyngeal obstruction.

OBJECTIVE

 To verify the correlation between nasopharyngoscopy and cephalometric examinations in the diagnosis of pharyngeal tonsil hyperplasia.

METHOD

 This was a cross-sectional, clinical, experimental, and quantitative study. Fifty-five children took part in this study, 30 girls and 25 boys, aged between 7 and 11 years. The children underwent nasofibropharyngoscopic and cephalometric evaluation to determine the grade of nasopharyngeal obstruction. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient at the 5% significance level was used to verify the correlation between these exams.

RESULTS

 In the nasopharyngoscopy evaluation, most children showed grade 2 and 3 hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil, which was followed by grade 1. In the cephalometry assessment, most children showed grade 1 hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil, which was followed by grade 2. A statistically significant regular positive correlation was observed between the exams.

CONCLUSION

 It was concluded that the evaluation of the pharyngeal tonsil hyperplasia could be carried out by fiber optic nasopharyngoscopy and cephalometry, as these examinations were regularly correlated. However, it was found that cephalometry tended to underestimate the size of the pharyngeal tonsil relative to nasopharyngoscopy.

Lateral X-ray view of the skull for the diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Many studies have been developed aiming to reveal the usefulness of cavum X-rays and telerradiographies as diagnostic tools for the detection of upper airway obstruction due to adenoid hypertrophy. However, the scientific literature is diverse and controversial. Therefore, a systematic review is proposed; with the objective to determine the diagnosis value of lateral X-ray view of the skull regarding adenoid hypertrophy.

METHODS

Searching was conducted on Pubmed, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Knowledge databases; and was restricted to studies published in English, Portuguese or Spanish languages, carried out on humans under 18 years of age. All the obtained publications were first submitted to a pre-selection, and then, full-texts (n=66) were analyzed and selected by independent examiners. The resultant studies (n=11) were systematically and critically analyzed, and qualified according to QUADAS (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) questionnaire, an assessment tool designed to qualify diagnostic tests accuracy studies.

RESULTS

Searching and selection procedures generated 11 studies which were considered adequate to be systematically analyzed. Accordingly, large variation was observed concerning the evaluation methods of radiographic and fibronasoendoscopic exams, and the sample characteristics. Additionally, little amount of scientific evidences could be provided, since few radiographic variables were analyzed simultaneously. Moreover, assessment methods were, at most, subjective or poorly described. QUADAS application revealed other significant limitations related to the sampling, such as inadequate spectrum of the investigated "disease" (adenoid hypertrophy), and poor report of the subjects' enrollment and participation process. Further, QUADAS revealed inadequacies regarding methodological features, including poor description of the radiographic exams and assessment methods. In addition, it was also shown that most of the studies did not specify the moment in clinical time when both exams were performed; neither reported a strategy of "blindness" by the examiners.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite such limitations, the majority of the resultant data indicates that lateral X-rays might be considered somewhat useful, even though it could not be clearly demonstrated. Future research should then adhere to greater methodological rigor, in order to investigate the significance of radiographies as a screening test.

Sensitivity and specificity of nasal flexible fiberoptic endoscopy in the diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy in children

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate nasal flexible fiberoptic endoscopy as a diagnostic test of adenoid hypertrophy in children with nasal obstruction.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty consecutive children aged 2-12 years were examined from May to October 2005. A questionnaire answered by parents or guardians was used to obtain a symptom score. Adenoid size was measured on radiographs of the nasal cavity using the Cohen and Konak method, and by nasal flexible fiberoptic endoscopy using the Wornald and Prescott classification. The criterion standard was the adenoid size demonstrated on radiograph.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of nasal flexible fiberoptic endoscopy was 92% (95% CI, 0.90-0.93), and specificity, 71% (95% CI, 0.70-0.72). The area under the ROC curve was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.76-0.90) at a p<0.001 level of significance. Kappa values were 0.94 (p<0.001) for interobserver agreement, 0.95 (p<0.001) for intraobserver agreement, and 0.54 (p<0.001) for agreement between tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that nasal flexible fiberoptic endoscopy is a highly accurate diagnostic method. This examination can be performed easily in cooperative children; it is safe, objective and dynamic, and helps to establish diagnoses in difficult cases.

Is topical local anaesthesia necessary when performing paediatric flexible nasendoscopy? A double-blind randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of lignocain 2% and oxymetazoline 0.025% compared to oxymetazoline 0.025% alone when administered prior to fibreoptic nasendoscopy in paediatric patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective, randomized controlled, double-blind study. A group of 56 children, undergoing nasendoscopy to determine adenoidal size, were randomized into two groups and received either lignocain 2% and oxymetazoline 0.025% or oxymetazoline 0.025% alone prior to fibreoptic nasendoscopy.

SETTING

A tertiary care Paediatric Hospital.

METHOD

The endoscopist recorded the ease of performance of the procedure, cooperation of patient and quality of the view achieved using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The pain and anxiety levels of the child were recorded before, during and immediately after the procedure, using a VAS. The duration of performing the procedure was recorded from insertion of the endoscope into the nostril until removal.

RESULTS

All 56 children were able to undergo the endoscopy and the full anxiety and pain assessment was done. Three children were excluded because they have undergone nasendoscopies before. Of the 53 patients included, 27 children received solution A (oxymetazoline 0.025%) and 26 children received solution B (oxymetazoline 0.025% and lignocain 2%). There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding the duration of the endoscopy, quality of view, ease of performance and cooperation of the patients. The median pain and anxiety scores were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study concludes that the use of a decongestant (oxymetazoline) for paediatric nasendoscopy is just as effective as the use of oxymetazoline with lignocain. Pain and anxiety is not increased in the absence of lignocain.